It probably came home with Hubby from work. It was friendly and visited me while in the vicinity. The first five days were a nasty business for both of us. Hubby is better, though he still has a bit of a cough and tires easily. I took Paxlovid, got better, then got Rebound Covid. I am definitely feeling better, though I can’t get rid of the cough. I’ve nearly polished off my third bottle of Robitussin in two weeks. I must not be the only one out there on the ‘Tussin ’cause Hubby is beating the streets after work tonight to try and score me a fourth bottle.
Laudy and Pip didn’t miss a beat while Hubby and I had Covid. As you can see, they snuggled in and laid low right along with us.
Though my body had just started making B-cells again and I only had a few (see my last post), I was able to fight the dreaded virus and live to tell the tale. I praise God for His timing and the fact He made our bodies to be such hardy machines. This experience has proven it’s safe for me to venture back out into the world again 🎉🥳.
Mourning Dove Eastern Bluebird Coming in for a landing – Carolina Chickadee Hopping off – House Finch Northern Cardinal Making some room in his crop – Blue JayGrabbing up a peanut – Titmouse Not a flattering picture of me, but my parrot, Laudy, is adorable with her tail wrapped and tucked.March’s Universal Yums arrived featuring treats from… BRAZIL!I’ve been sewing during my convalescence. I made this flannel shirt using the Aria pattern by Love Notions (my favorite independent pattern company). I just need to get the buttonholes made and the buttons sewn on and it will be done just in time for St Patrick’s Day 💚!
I hope you have had a good start to March. May God be with you! ❤️, Amy
Energy all gone, Feels like I’m in a coma – A puddle of goo.
I think I’ve melted into and become one with my recliner these last four days.
Thankfully, once again, my feathered friends have come to the rescue and filled the long hours with the joy of their songs and avian antics.
Eastern Bluebird and House FinchCardinal at takeoff. I love how you can see the individual features of his right wing.Female Cardinal Female House FinchAnother Eastern Bluebird I can’t get enough of our State Bird 💙American Goldfinch Mourning DoveCarolina Chickadee Dark-eyed Junco Though the image isn’t great, I was able to document my first ever sighting of a gorgeous Pileated Woodpecker across the road in our neighbor’s tree on Saturday!! This sighting was absolutely thrilling for me and I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day ☺️.
Another source of happiness filling my idle time has been the company of our cats, Laudy and Pip. They have no idea what a blessing and source of company they are to me, but I count them as one of God’s treasures gifted to my keeping. And they are experts at the art of resting 😻.
A person very dear to me gifted Hubby and I a fun surprise, a 6-month subscription to Universal Yums. It’s a monthly box featuring snack food from different countries around the world. This month’s box arrived yesterday with treats from… Austria 🇦🇹 😋!
Hubby’s favorite was the Waffelz and mine was the Auer Baumstamme.
Watching the water flow at the lake in our neighborhood park.MS gal and her scooter Beauty in death and a promise of what will be again.Even the sun’s rays were windy 💨My favorite benchPretty corner in our backyard I decided to clean out the empty bird boxes for the season…… and found the partial remains of a Carolina Wren egg 🧡.
Hubby and I celebrated 17 years of wedded bliss last week 💞. First thing he did that morning? Cleaned the windows so I had a better view of the birds. Love and happiness – just look at that smile – are found in the doing of little things.
May you find your greatest joy in Christ this year and always. God be with you! ❤️, Amy
Thank you for the encouragement to keep Amy’s Axons going. I received numerous texts, messages, emails, and FB posts saying this little blog is meaningful to my friends and family. The most important voice was my Hubby’s, he said it was “worthwhile” and “meaningful”. So, I will continue to share snippets of my life with you and hope you continue to enjoy the content.
Although most of the leaves have succumbed to the great gusts of wind in the Ozarks the last couple of days, I was able to photograph a few places close to our house in mid-October. Looking through these makes me hungry for pumpkin bread, such are the fall vibes.
The day before the first frost of the season (a couple of weeks ago) I caught these butterflies on our butterfly bushes.
This chickadee was so obliging that he posed in the most photogenic spot in the backyard and allowed me to capture his loveliness.
I somehow managed to squeeze the trigger at just the right moment as the twigs were parted by the wind and caught an unobscured pic of this handsome house finch.
My Mom is always in my heart but especially today. I cherish my memories of her and the love she always gave me.
Purple flowers (her favorite color) and a good cleaning of her headstone. Happy birthday, Mom!
Sunday was a beautiful day in the Ozarks so Hubby took me for a drive after church.First thing Monday morning one of our cats puked her breakfast all over the blanket on our bed. So, laundry.I listened to some classic rock while sewing up a tote bag on Monday.One of Hubby’s work friends has been sharing with us some of the surplus eggs her hens have been laying. She loves the St. Louis Blues, so I found some themed fabric and made this up for her.I don’t care about hockey, but I love the yellow and blue together.Tuesday afternoon I rode my scooter to the little lake in our neighborhood and took a few photos.Wednesday was a rest day. Pip and I watched the birds together 🥰.After work on Thursday, Hubby and I went to my Dad’s for dinner. Hubby then helped Dad clean out the gutters and……weed eat.Dad worked hard too.I sewed up a couple more totes on Friday. I think I’ve now made 13 bags from this pattern over the last year.The cupcakes look yummy 😋!I love the pockets, they make the bag very versatile.Friday was a tough MS day with very limited energy. I was pretty proud that I was able to get the kitchen cleaned.Today, Saturday, has been another MS dominant day. I sat on the patio this afternoon and enjoyed watching the birds and this little fella.I think squirrels are funny and cute, though I know they can be pests.
I hope you are doing well. God be with you! ❤️, Amy
I always look forward to a visit from the migrating red-breasted grosbeaks each spring. I noticed this sweet lady this morning but haven’t seen a male yet. Grosbeaks are in the same family, Cardinalidae, as cardinals. Can you see the family resemblance?This robin hit the jackpot by our neighborhood lake.Evidence that spring is all around us.Several frogs were sunning themselves in our neighborhood lake earlier in the week when the weather was nice. There were only a few pink petals floating in the water but this little fella found one.I’m not sure who was watching who. Those eyes 👀!!I love how you can really see this frog’s tympanic membrane 👂.The eating must be good at the lake 🦟I have no idea what this is but it was pretty cool with all the bubbles inside it’s top. If it was an inkblot, I’d say it looks like a person walking down the street with an invisibility cloak over the top half of their body.
I hope you are enjoying your week. See you next time! ❤️, Amy
The last time I posted I told you I had a relapse of my MS and was getting ready for a few days of steroid infusions to try and hasten recovery. Sure enough, it happened and my symptoms have improved. My left eye stopped twitching and feeling numb, I can move my legs again and walk with less of a shuffle-stumble sort of thing. My energy level has improved to allow me to be up for more than 3-5 minutes at a time. Things are still not back to where they were before, but I’m hoping the trajectory continues to move up.
The IV was placed right where my wrist bends, not ideal. It was a long three days.Hubby made me a “splint” to remind me not to bend my wrist. It worked a treat other than the fact I had a piece of wood there day and night. I cut a sock and used it to keep my splint in place.
Huge doses of steroids given in a short time creates numerous icky side effects – one of the worst for me is flushing of the skin. That being said, the side effects during the infusion are nothing compared to the slam your body takes when your last dose is done. Agonizing, insipid, catatonic-like fatigue reigns for about three days while your skin hurts to the touch and your muscles ache down to the bone. Slowly, the goo seeps out through every pore of your being and, around day four, you sense you are morphing back into feeling like a human.
I’m so thankful it’s all behind me now. It’s been four years since I had a relapse necessitating steroids. Yesterday marked four years since I completely retired due to MS and April will mark 32 years since my diagnosis. I’ve never felt bitter about this disease nor thrown my fist in the air screaming, “Why me?”. I think a better question is “Why not me?”. Everyone has some struggle to deal with in life. There’s no such thing as luck, good or bad. There is such a thing as attitude, though. As Philippians 1:27 says, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Though “whatever happens” here is in reference to whether Paul can come to visit the Philippians or not, he goes on, in the same verse, to tell them, “Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.” No matter what diseases, frustrations, difficulties, or unexpected troubles come our way, we are to respond with a Christlike attitude that brings honor and praise to the glory of God.
Nothing makes me think of God more than His creation.
Carolina Wren American Goldfinches Tufted Titmouse Lucky shot 📸Carolina Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch Fisheye lens through our birch trees.Hubby threw some eggs in the yard and some American Crows enjoyed them. I love all birds.Blowing in the wind…… beautifully.
I hope you are doing well. May God be with you. ❤️, Amy
Hubby and I celebrated 16 years of marriage yesterday 💕. He’s always been and always will be the best part of my life. God gave each of us to the other and not a day goes by without recognizing and giving thanks for such a love as this.
Christmas Day at my sister’s.Hubby in deep puppy love.❤️Sunrise in TexasSame sunrise 5 minutes later.Using my zoom lens with the fisheye effect.Poor little jellyfish.Chicken soup for the puny, I had the flu but am better now.Typical of my life living with MS in 2021 – feet up. I suspect more of the same in 2022.
Thank you to all who follow or occasionally peruse my blog. I wish you a safe, happy, and healthy New Year! ❤️, Amy
I think the beginning of November and the start of December swapped their weather garbs here in Southwest Missouri. 70+°F today!?!
My Hubby took this photo while riding around Fellows Lake in Springfield, MO.
My sweet tooth took over my phone last month and before I knew what it was doing it had ordered TWO advent calendars!
McCrea’s Caramels out of Boston, MA. Look at this artwork… adorable! Caramel flavors include: Black Lava Sea Salt, Classic Vanilla, Cape Cod Sea Salt, Deep Chocolate, Tapped Maple, Ginger Fusion, Cafe Noir, Dark Roasted Mocha, Rosemary Truffle Sea Salt, Chocolate Peppermint, Cinnamon Clove, and Anisette.This beautiful box of goodies is from Parisian candy maker Bossier. The website was full of beautiful handmade candies and I can’t wait to try each one. Chocolate covered almonds and hazelnuts, cocoa coated almonds, fruit flavored candies, honey flavored hard candies, caramels, jelly filled candies, almond puffed rice chocolate, bear gummies, strawberry candies, heart shaped gummies, fruit jellies, dark chocolate pearls, fruit flavored chocolate petals, chocolate balls, heart shaped chocolate truffles, calissons (French specialty candies), and fondants.Ohhh, and I also got these little fruit flavored hard candies, they taste a lot like lollipops.
My MS has been very “assertive” over my legs and energy levels (among other symptoms) these last couple of months. That means lots of sitting and boredom. I’ve filled the time with some hand sewing and needlework. These little puffs turned out pretty cute.
We kept my Dad’s dog again for a few days. She’s growing on this die-hard Cat Lady.
As you can see, life has been very exciting around here 😂. Of course, no post of mine is complete without a few photos of birds.
Male downy woodpeckerMale house finche
Carolina chickadee
I’ve been rereading through the Bible each day, great gulps at a time, two or three books per day. I’m overwhelmed at the scope, harmony, depth, awesomeness, faithfulness, mercy, loving kindness, and holiness of God. Everything He does is Right. Everything He says is True. In this season of Christmas, it is especially important to remember how all history, all time, all hope, all fulfillment of prophecy, all meaning and purpose is found in God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ. He is more than a season, more than an Eve or a Day. He is Creator, King, Redeemer, God with Us, Promise-fulfilled, Hope, High Priest Forever, and so much more. Come let us bow before Him and worship Him in His majesty! ❤️, Amy
This beauty came right up beside me and let me take his picture. I think he knew he was a looker.Although she was a bit more cautious than her male companion, she flashed several poses.This little guy kept telling his Mom, “I’m playing with the ducks!”. I’m not sure the ducks saw it that way 😉.It was a windy day and this cutie pie held her bangs back so she could watch her brother “play” with the ducks.As I sat by the lake, I noticed this butterfly land on the side of my leg. It had a couple of injuries to it’s wings and seemed unafraid of me. Over the span of the next hour it made it’s way onto my fingers and then into the palm of my hand. It was incredible to watch it taste my skin with it’s long, bendy tongue. It had some visible pollen on it’s wings so I knew it had been out foraging. It seemed as if it needed a rest and I felt honored it chose me as a safe harbor. It’s been a little over a week since my encounter with this tiny creature, nevertheless, its memory has flitted across my mind numerous times. The sun through the just changing autumnal leaves was glorious.Sun on a single strand of a spider’s web.I can’t get over how big a fiery skipper’s eyes are compared to it’s head. I could almost feel it watching me as it crawled over the flowers of our butterfly bush.Joy of joys, the monarchs have found our butterfly bushes! We’ve had as many as eight at a time 🦋❤️!! The way the sun shines through their wings reminds me of stained glass.AND, I think this is a spicebush swallowtail. What a neat little fella!
I hope you are doing well. God be with you. ❤️, Amy
Amy's Axons 